Clinical trial · Exercise · 8 Nov 2026
In 80 adults with knee osteoarthritis, 12 weeks of remote resistance-band work after one injection improved function, and not pain scores
Source: Research in Sports Medicine
What the research found
A randomized add-on trial was published on 8 November 2026. Hui-Ju Lin, Nai-Jen Chang, and colleagues enrolled 80 adults with knee osteoarthritis, Kellgren-Lawrence grade 1 to 3, who had not responded adequately to conservative care. The abstract used here does not give age or sex. Everyone received one hyaluronic acid injection in the joint. They were then allocated to 12 weeks of tele-supervised resistance-band work or to standard education without supervised exercise. The between-group difference in WOMAC total change favored the band program, -5 points (95 percent CI -9.86 to -0.13, p = 0.044). WOMAC physical function also favored the bands (-4.88, -8.28 to -1.47), as did the 30-second sit-to-stand test (+3.79 repetitions, 2.80 to 4.79) and the timed up-and-go (-1.87 seconds, -2.34 to -1.41). Pain on a visual scale did not differ (-0.38, -1.00 to 0.25). The trial conclusion is that adding the remote band program improved function and mobility, with no additional reduction in pain. DOI 10.1080/15438627.2026.2755388. Not medical advice.
Evidence level: Clinical trial. This is among the stronger kinds of evidence, but one study rarely settles a question.
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